After spending over a month in the den of kidnappers, a Catholic Priest identified as Reverend Father Alphonsus Afina as well as 42 other victims have been rescued in a joint operation by men of the Department of State Services (DSS) and troops of the Nigerian Army.
Rev. Fr. Afina who was said to have been abducted since June 1 by Boko Haram terrorists was rescued alongside 10 women were on Monday.
Truthlive News recalls that the abduction of the clergyman in Gworza, Borno State, had graced global headlines, as he had served as a priest in Alaska, United States, from September 2017 through 2024.
He was kidnapped alongside some unspecified number of fellow travelers on the Liman Kara – Gwoza Road in Gwoza local government area of the state.
Upon their rescue, Catholic Bishop of Maiduguri Diocese, John Bakeni, who doubles as the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Borno State, commended the gallantry and intelligence of the DSS operatives who rescued the 11 persons unhurt without paying ransom.
According to the Bishop, the Catholic community worldwide was excited at news that Father Afina had regained freedom after nearly two months in the dungeon of terrorists.
Furthermor, the Bishop explained that Father Afina was travelling from Mubi in Adamawa State to Maiduguri, when his vehicle was ambushed at a military checkpoint after a rocket-propelled grenade struck one of the vehicles in his convoy, killing one occupant.
Meanwhile, DSS officers in Zamfara State, also with support from troops of the Nigerian Army, last week rescued 32 kidnap victims in Shinkafi LGA of the state.
Also, Security sources disclosed that the rescued victims included 27 women and five young boys, who have spent between two and four months in captivity.
The source disclosed that “they have been handed over to the state government for medicare and documentation.”
